Minutes_Five Flags Civic Center Advisory Commission 4 28 14PRESENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
MINUTES
APPORVED;
VOTE:
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
FINANCIAL
REREPORT
Five Flags Civic Center Advisory Commission Meeting
Monday April 28, 2014
Unapproved by Commission
Bryce Parks, Tyler Daugherty, Rod Bakke
Marie Ware, Joyce White, Don Howes, Ali Levasseur
It was moved by Parks, seconded by Daugherty, to approve the minutes of the
January 27, 2014 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
General Manager White reviewed the "familiarization" for commission members
discussed at last meeting. As citizen representatives, commission members can
approach city council members before the goal setting meetings in August to
make council members aware of the community concerns with the future of Five
Flags Center. White discussed creating a presentation for the council of the
history and bullet points for commissioners to reference and deliver same
information.
Commissioner Parks brought forth the concept of creating a "Friends of Five
Flags" non-profit foundation that would seek grants and other funds for
equipment for the Five Flags Center. Discussion was held regarding how to
create a foundation. Commissioner Bakke recommends talk with Barb O'Hea
who is currently with the NICC Foundation.
General Manager White delivered new business under departmental reports
Director of Finance, Don Howes delivered following report:
Quarter:
We are under March's monthly budgeted net loss by $5,411.
• Utilities were higher due to the long sub -zero weather.
• General and Administrative was higher due primarily by increased
advertising costs.
• Increased revenue due to The Band Perry concert that was not
budgeted or forecast.
• Revenue for each event in February was higher than forecasted.
Year -To Date:
• Actual YTD Adjusted Gross Income is less than the YTD budgeted
income by $4,399.
• Actual YTD Total Indirect Expenses is less than the YTD budgeted
expenses by $10,668.
• Actual YTD net loss is less than the YTD budgeted net loss by $6,269.
Forecast:
• March's forecast shows to be under the budget at years end by
$18,722.
Benchmark:
• We are forecasted to be under the Benchmark at year's end by
$16,392.
•
OPERATIONS General Manager Joyce White delivered the following report:
Page 1 of 4
REPORT: Upgrades and improvements during the third quarter of FY14 included the
following efforts:
MARKETING
PROMTIONS &
EVENTS REPORT
• Monthly safety meetings were typically held on the second Wednesday of
each month during the second quarter. Monthly Safety Topics have included
"Forklift Safety"; "Ergonomics"; and "Housekeeping".
• Safety Committee members continue to schedule and conduct review of
specific areas within our venue for the specific purpose of inspecting for
unsafe practices or OSHA violations creating an unsafe workspace for our
employees. Upon completion of the walk-through, the Safety Chair compiled
and presented the notes to the specific department head for review and
correction of any potential safety violations.
• Full and part-time staff are assigned safety topics (available on video) which
they view and complete on an individual basis. Skill tests are taken following
the completion of each topic. Management maintains an active Safety
Training Log on an on-going basis.
• Routine maintenance has included cleaning and readying boilers for
state inspection; cleaning and setting events; and maintaining
"Bigfoot", the venue's maintenance software.
• Operations personnel facilitated a site visit for representatives from
Energy Performance Lighting to conduct an audit of the venue's
electrical fixtures, including the theater). Energy Performance
representatives compiled data, computed findings, and presented a
proposal for complete electrical lighting replacement and payback to
members of the Operations Department and Leisure Services.
Marketing Coordinator Ali Levasseur delivered following report
Primary marketing activities during the third quarter for FY14 included the
following:
Past Quarter "Initiatives":
• Five Flags will be presenting the Jim McDonough Spring Concert Tour in
May, 2014.
• Troupe America, Inc. contract was modified from two showings to one on
April 17 "A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement"— a component of The
Church Basement Ladies series.
• Contract for four George Cardin Circus shows on May 7 - 8, 2014. Our
calendar wasn't originally to host a circus in FY14 — so we were pleased to
add four shows to our current booking calendar.
• Contracted for two Christmas shows in the coming season — The Oak Ridge
Boys will be returning on November 29 and Mannheim Steamroller will be
returning on December 18.
Past Quarter Event "highlights":
National Touring Shows this past quarter included:
• "The Band Perry" played Dubuque on February 13, 2014 to a very large
and appreciative audience. The show was the largest (production wise)
since Kiss played here in the early eighties — according to a local Dubuque
Page 2 of 4
promoter.
• Act 5 Entertainment played one theater performance of 50 Shades: The
Musical in February. The audience loved the show.
• Disney Live returned to the delight of youngsters and played two shows on
Sunday, March 2.
• Loras College hosted NCAA D-3 Regional Wrestling Tournament the first
weekend in March. Five Flags has hosted this regional event the past two
years.
Local and Regional Shows this past quarter included:
• Local promoter of the Irish Hooley, Michael Lange, booked the theater
and presented Cherish the Ladies, to largely an appreciative audience of
mainly Irish descendants on March 17.
• Retro Rewind, a new event for the venue, was held in January and included
a classic car show, a display of "retro" paraphernalia, and entertainment in
the arena while "old car movies" were shown in the theater. The event was
very successful for the first effort and the promoter has already booked the
venue for January, 2015.
• Kinseth Hotel Corporation Expo held a two-day convention and expo in the
arena in February — a first time event for both the corporation and Five Flags.
The theater was utilized for business meetings, entertainment and social
components. The corporation was very pleased with event.
• MMA, Big Time Bull Ride, Melanie Devaney in Concert, Multicultural
Family Center's "Taste of the World", DSO, Elisha Darlin Awards, Fly-
by -Night Theater Company, Dubuque Soccer Club, UD's Phi Beta
Sigma social fraternity, Colts Drum and Bugle Corp auditions, Trogga
classes, and multiple City meetings completed the primary event calendar
for the quarter.
Commissioners also reviewed the quarterly event totals and event listing.
STAFF General Manager Joyce White delivered the following report:
DEVELOPMENT Staff updates and activity occurring during the third quarter includes the
REPORT following:
Staff Activity
• Joyce White, has continued with monthly commitments and served as Chair
for Dubuque Convention and Visitor's Bureau nine -member board. She
has met the board on a monthly basis and regularly has met and consulted
with Keith Rahe, President and CEO of the CVB. Additional board
memberships included monthly meetings with Dubuque Main Street and
Executive Board, and as 2od Chair for the Dubuque Chamber of
Commerce, Joyce attends monthly Executive Board and full Board
meetings. Typically, Joyce attends thee or so monthly Chamber
Ambassador ribbon cuttings.
• As a member of the Advisory Board for Dubuque Convention and
Visitor's Center, a twenty -member board, Don Howes has attended the bi-
monthly board meetings.
• As 2014 President for Dubuque Jaycees, Alyson Tasker holds bi-monthly
board meetings and general membership meetings. Alyson also attended the
"Local President's Summit", held in St. Louis, in early January.
• As 2014 President of DCFAS, Ali Levasseur, chose Five Flags as the site
for the Elisha Darlin Art Awards and served as emcee for the event. Ali also
attended meetings of the Carnegie Stout Public Library Art
Subcommittee, Voices, and DCFAS.
Page 3 of 4
OTHER BUSINESS:
ADJURN;
VOTE:
NEXT MEETING:
Commissioner Bakke complimented Ali Levasseur on the Elisha Darlin Art
Award presentation.
Staff Training
• Required safety training to obtain "recertification" for hourly and full-time
personnel included:
o TIPS (safe alcohol practices) training
o AED/CPR
• Ongoing training to each department is being assigned on a monthly by
utilizing the Bigfoot software package.
SMG Corporate Conference Calls
• Ali Levasseur participated in monthly regional conference calls to discuss
marketing initiatives.
• Alyson Tasker, John Richardson, and Bob Richardson participated in
monthly regional conference calls to discuss operational initiatives.
• Joyce White participated in twice -monthly national and regional conference
calls to discuss theater and arena routings.
It was moved by Parks, seconded by Bakke, that the meeting be adjourned. The
motion passed unanimously.
Next meeting held in the General Manager's Office on Monday July 28, 2014 at
3:30PM. Five Flags staff will place an email "Thursday before" to remind
commissioners of the meeting.
Page 4 of 4